Final Vocab

Question 1

alley

Answer 1

the playing area that comes into or out of play at various times during any game. For example, the side alley is the playing area on each side of the court between the singles sideline and the doubles sideline. This 1.5 foot wide area is in play for doubles, but out of bounds for singles. The back alley is an area 2.5 foot deep between the doubles back service line and the back boundary line. It is out of bounds on any doubles serve. After the serve is in play, this alley is in bounds for any other return.

Question 2

around-the-head stroke

Answer 2

a return made with a forehand stroke but contacted over the player’s non dominant shoulder

Question 3

back boundary line

Answer 3

the line similar to the baseline in tennis that designates the end or back of the badminton playing area

Question 4

backcourt

Answer 4

approximately the last 11 feet of the court on either side of the net or mid court to the back boundary line

Question 5

backhand grip

Answer 5

the manner in which a player grasps the racket to hit any return from his or her non dominant side. In badminton, this is usually done with the dominant thumb in an up position on the top left bevel of the handle

Question 6

backswing

Answer 6

that part of the swing that takes the racket back in preparation for the forward swing

Question 7

Badminton World Federation

Answer 7

the governing body for badminton play and competition throughout the world. Formerly the International Badminton Federation or IBF, the name change was effective December 2006.

Question 8

base

Answer 8

a spot near the middle of the court that a player tries to return to after most shots

Question 9

baseline

Answer 9

the line designating the back boundary of the court

Question 10

bird

Answer 10

the missile or object struck with the badminton racket that begins the rally over the net. Same as shuttle or shuttlecock.

Question 11

carry

Answer 11

a return that is caught on the racket face and is slung or thrown over the net. It is sometimes referred to as a sling or a throw. This is a legal return as long as it is a continuation of the player’s normal stroke and is not a double hit.

Question 12

clear

Answer 12

a high return that carries deep into the backcourt

Question 13

crosscourt

Answer 13

a return or stroke that sends the bird diagonally across the court

Question 14

double hit

Answer 14

a fault that occurs when the shuttle is hit twice in succession on the same stroke

Question 15

doubles service court

Answer 15

the serving area into which the doubles serve must be delivered. Each side of a badminton court has a right and a left service court for doubles. Each doubles service court is bounded by the short service line, the centerline, the doubles sideline, and the doubles back service line. Its dimensions are 13 feet long by 10 feet wide. It is sometimes referred to as short and fat. The side alley is in bounds; the back alley is not.

Question 16

drive

Answer 16

a return or stroke that sends the shuttle in a relatively flat trajectory, parallel to the floor, but high enough to pass over the net.

Question 17

drive serve

Answer 17

a hard, fast serve that crosses the net with a flat trajectory and is usually directed toward the receiver’s non dominant shoulder. It is used more in doubles than in singles.

Question 18

drop shot

Answer 18

a return or stroke that barely clears the net and falls toward the floor, hit underhand or overhand from the net or the backcourt.

Question 19

fault

Answer 19

any violation of the rules

Question 20

flick serve or flick return

Answer 20

a quick, flat serve or return initiated by a flick of the wrist that loops the bird high out of reach toward the rear of the opponent’s court. It is used primarily in doubles if the opponent is consistently rushing the player’s serve.

Question 21

follow-through

Answer 21

the smooth continuation of a stroke after the racket has contacted the bird

Question 22

forehand

Answer 22

any return or stroke hit on the dominant side of the body

Question 23

forehand grip

Answer 23

the manner in which the player grasps the racket to hit any return from his or her dominant side. The handshake, or pistol, grip is the most common forehand grip in badminton.

Question 24

front court

Answer 24

approximately the front 11 feet of the court on either side of the net or mid court to the net. The front part of the court, sometimes referred to as the forecourt.

Question 25

game

Answer 25

a competition that has a goal of a specified number of points. All games, such as women’s or men’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, are played to 21 points.

Question 26

hairpin drop shot

Answer 26

a form of drop shot played from near the net that travels up one side of the net and down the other side, thus forming a trajectory in the shape of a hairpin

Question 27

hands down

Answer 27

under the rally point scoring system, in which only one partner has the opportunity to serve in any one service turn, this term no longer applies. Under the former rules, hands down was used to indicate when a doubles partner lost his or her turn to serve. One hand down meant that one partner lost his or her serve. Two hands down meant both partners had lost their serves, indicating their service turn was over and their side was out

Question 28

inning

Answer 28

an individual’s or team’s turn at serving or the serving turn on one end of the court.

Question 29

International Badminton Federation

Answer 29

The IBF was formerly the governing body for badminton play and competition throughout the world.

Question 30

let

Answer 30

a form of interference in which the point is replayed

Question 31

love

Answer 31

in scoring, meaning zero or no points have been scored

Question 32

love-all

Answer 32

zero-all or no points have been scored by either side

Question 33

match

Answer 33

a competition that has a specified number of games. To win a match, a player usually has to win two out of three games

Question 34

match point

Answer 34

the point that winds the match

Question 35

mixed doubles

Answer 35

a four-handed game in which male and female partners team together to play on opposite sides of the net from each other

Question 36

net shot

Answer 36

any return that strikes the net and continues over into the opponent’s court. This might also apply to any drop shot return played from a point near the net.

Question 37

overhead

Answer 37

any stroke played from a point above head height

Question 38

placement

Answer 38

a return hit to a specific spot in the opponent’s court where it will be difficult for the opponent to return

Question 39

push shot

Answer 39

a return or shot hit or pushed softly down into the opponent’s court. In doubles, this usually means past the opposing partner stationed at the net.

Question 40

rally

Answer 40

any exchange back and forth across the net between opposing players during any particular point

Question 41

ready position

Answer 41

the basic waiting position near center court, which is equidistant from all corners. This position affords the player the best opportunity to get to any possible return made by the opponent

Question 42

receiver

Answer 42

any player who receives the serve

Question 43

return

Answer 43

any method of hitting an opponent’s shots back over the net

Question 44

serve or service

Answer 44

the act of putting the shuttle into play at the beginning of a point or rally

Question 45

server

Answer 45

the player who delivers the serve

Question 46

service court

Answer 46

one of the two half-courts divided by the net into which the serve must be directed. There are right and left service courts for singles and doubles play. They differ in size and shape.

Question 47

service over

Answer 47

loss of serve, serve goes over to the opponent.

Question 48

short service line

Answer 48

the front line designating the beginning of the service court and situated 6 ft 6 in from the net

Question 49

shuttle or shuttlecock

Answer 49

the missile used in badminton. Same as bird.

Question 50

side out

Answer 50

loss of service. Same as service over or hands down in doubles play

Question 51

singles service court

Answer 51

the serving area into which the singles serve must be delivered. Each side of a badminton court has a right and a left service court for singles. Each singles service court is bounded by the short service line, the center line, the singles sideline and the back boundary line. Its dimensions are 15.5 ft long by 8.5 ft wide. It is sometimes referred to long and narrow.

Question 52

singles sideline

Answer 52

the singles sideline designated the out-of-bounds for singles play. The singles court is 17 ft wide from sideline to sideline

Question 53

smash

Answer 53

a powerful overhead return or stroke hit at a downward angle into the opponents court with excessive speed.

Question 54

stroke

Answer 54

the act of hitting the bird with the racket

Question 55

Thomas Cup

Answer 55

a men’s international badminton team competition similar to the Davis Cup in tennis. It was first held in 1948. Six singles and three doubles matches are played between two countries. Thomas Cup competition is held on a two-year cycle in the even years.

Question 56

Uber cup

Answer 56

a woman’s international team competition. It began in 1957 and was named for a former English player, Mrs. H.S. Uber. It is also held on a two=year cycle in the even years.

Question 57

USA Badminton

Answer 57

USA Badminton is the national governing body for badminton in the US. USA Badminton was the American Badminton Association from 1936-1977, when it was reorganized and renamed the United States Badminton Association. In 1996, the current name USA Badminton, was adopted for membership purpose.

Question 58

wood shot

Answer 58

this return or shot results from the tip of cork of the shuttle hitting on the frame of the racket rather than on the strings. Although it has not always been a legal return, the IBF ruled in 1963 that wood shots were acceptable.